Carnaval. Scènes mignonnes composées pour le Pianoforte sur quatre notes... Oeuv. 9.

Leipsic: Breitkopf & Härtel; Paris, M. Schlesinger. [1837]. First edition. Engraved folio (13.25 x 10 inches). 31 pp. [PN] 5813. Publishers stamp on title. Half calf with green cloth boards, gilt ruled with spine titled in gilt, with the stamp of the Birdsall bindery. With the humorous faces engraved into each of the letters of the title page.


Some scuffing to leather along extremities, a few small closed tears in lower margins outside of the plate, three pages with tears extending somewhat over plate lines, moderate dampstain along upper right corner of pages, not reaching plate marks. Hinges and joints sound and tight, overall a handsome, complete, and well preserved copy of the rare first edition of Schumann's early masterpiece.


Fuld, p. 164; CPM Vol.51, p.180; Hoboken Vol.15, No.17; New Grove, 16: 865; Hofmann pp. 22-23.


Composed in 1834 as Schumann was having a relationship with Ernestine von Fricken (see description of Allegro, Op. 8) , the generating motifs of "Carnaval" derive from the name of her hometown, Asch (and SCHA are letters common to Schumann's own last name). Originally titled "Fasching: Schwänke auf vier Noten für Pianoforte von Florestan" ("Carnival: Anecdotes on Four Notes for Piano after Florestan") and catalogued as his Opus 12, it was renamed Carnaval, with the subtitle "Little Scenes on Four Notes" and published in 1837 as his Opus 9. "The cycle brings together a colourful array of musical fragments titled after characters who run the gamut from members of the Davidsbund (some distinguished as commedia dell’arte figures), to Clara Wieck, Ernestine, Paganini and Chopin." (Grove Online)


"The richness of its material and its pulsating life make it one of the great half-hours of human fantasy." (David Dubal, "The Essential Canon of Classical Music," pp. 236-37) (5788)

---

Printed Music

Classical Music

• Sold